SC orders status quo on demolition order for Supertech towers

In a major relief to Supertech and 600 flat buyers, the Supreme Court ( SC) on Monday ordered status quo on Allahabad High Court's ( HC) April 11 order virtually staying the demolition of its underconstruction twin 40- storey towers in the real estate major's Emerald Court project.

While admitting an appeal filed by Supertech and the buyers, a three- Judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India R. M. Lodha slammed the builder and Noida ( New Okhla Industrial Development Authority) which sanctioned the project and said that there is enough prima facie evidence of " hankypanky" and collusion between the two.

The SC also restrained Supertech from alienating any part of the buildings or creating any form of third- party interests.

Questioning the sanction plan by the Authority to raise 40 floors on an area that initially had a sanction only for nine floors, Justice Lodha said, " If any untoward incident happens though it must not happen? Fire catches? You are putting lives of thousands of people in peril." Justice Lodha added, " Or is it that the entire plan was designed in a way this entire subsequent plan can be adjusted? The whole thing suffers from serious flaws because of the connivance between the Authority and the builder. As per the records, the original plan was ground plus nine floors and then 11 and then 24 and finally 40. It's frightening to say the least." If the towers are demolished, then money must be paid to flat owners by the Authority as it colluded and participated in giving sanction for them, the court added.